By February 8, WhatsApp's 2 billion users will have to agree to a controversial new privacy policy if they want to continue using the free instant messaging platform. The policy requires users to agree to WhatsApp sharing personal information with its parent company, Facebook. For now, it appears that neither company will be able to read the encrypted messages sent between users.
Is total online privacy at no cost – be it in terms of user data or money – too good to be true?
Consumer demands for online privacy are justified, but action from private tech companies is not the only condition for such protection. Consumers will also have to start recognising their own responsibility and the power they hold to shape the sector.
Platforms such as WhatsApp have transformed our lives. The app's users can communicate with anyone around the globe, free of charge. The days of racking up costs from text messages are largely behind us. Businesses and customers alike have direct lines to one another, boosting market efficiency. And as technology creeps further and further into our lives, these platforms, for a long time, gave us assurances of privacy. WhatsApp's initial success was owed largely to its secure encryption.
The consumer value of privacy was a reason that the ideals of Silicon Valley in its early days were grounded, at least publicly, in moral philosophy. Google, another tech giant, saved years of human potential by making knowledge accessible in a matter of seconds, speeding up the the rate at which people can access truth, even in the most repressive of circumstances. In its code of conduct, it famously enshrined the phrase "Don't be Evil". It guided the company's mission and gave users the confidence that they were entrusting their data with a responsible enterprise. So many felt betrayed in 2018, when the company conspicuously erased the phrase in its code of conduct and other corporate literature. Were Google users to understand that not being evil was no longer a priority?
Since WhatsApp's new privacy policy was announced, secure messaging app Signal is topping download lists on the Apple Store and Google Play. AFP
Is total online privacy at no cost – be it in terms of user data or money – too good to be true?
Many criticised the organisation for selling out, cashing in on the immense financial value of user data. Other tech companies have since followed suit. Those who buy the data can create highly targeted marketing campaigns. More sinister groups who gain access to it can even go so far as to undermine elections or sow social discord.
The popular fear in response to WhatsApp's latest move stems from a perception that it, too, is shedding principle in favour of profits. But, as scepticism of the priorities of big tech increases, users must accept that the sector is, and always has been, made up of profit-oriented businesses. If privacy is key, perhaps, as some tech analysts have suggested, users should start paying for security-focused platforms, eradicating an app's need to make money through selling data.
Educating people on the commercial nature of the sector will lead to fewer conspiracy theories about its motivations. It will also empower consumers to level better-informed criticisms when the need arises. Much like a public health warning on a cigarette packet, informing an individual of their agency as a consumer will push companies to take user concerns seriously, something they will have to do transparently and in good faith, if they want to ensure their long-term survival.
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Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)
Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City
Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
PFA Premier League team of 2018-19
Allison (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
